ECHO handed TNC its first loss in MPL Season Nine, 2-1, to extend their winning streak to three, Saturday afternoon.
A crucial pick-off on Mark “Kramm” Rusiana’s Thamuz down the bottom lane in the 11:24-mark of Game Three proved to be the key in ECHO’s win.
The play opened up a Luminous Lord take for ECHO which eventually secured the series with Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno (Aulus) capping it off with a Maniac. The M2 World Championship MVP almost had the first Savage of the season but the final kill went to Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales’ Beatrix.
KarlTzy finished with six kills and five assists against one death in the 13-4 Game Three triumph, which lasted for 13 minutes and 51 seconds.
The win helped ECHO claim the top spot with a clean 3-0 standing with eight points while also dropping TNC to the second spot with a 2-1 standing and seven markers.
TNC had the quick head start in Game One with Daniel “SDzyz” Chu taking advantage of the Demon Slayer emblem on Lancelot and securing the first three Cryoturtles of the match. He also edged KarlTzy’s Benedetta by a level in the first 10 minutes of the match.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair from there, but ECHO finally had its much-needed separation past the 12-minute mark through Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera’s Chou, who used his Way of the Dragon on SDzyz to allow KarlTzy to secure the Luminous Lord.
TNC almost bagged a kill on KarlTzy past the 14-minute mark to try and stall the game, but it was not enough as ECHO grabbed the win through kills on SDzyz, Kramm (Barats), and Ben “Benthings” Maglaque (Jawhead) in TNC’s Serpent pit.
KarlTzy, who showcased God-like mechanical skills in the match, finished with two kills and seven assists against one death in the 12-4 Game One victory in 15 minutes and 15 seconds.
ECHO kept its momentum to start Game Two with KarlTzy (Paquito) and Yawi (Chou) setting up the tempo.
Indeed, it was a long tug of war for both squads, exchanging the first two Luminous Lords as the match reached the 20-minute mark.
However, TNC finally had its way when ECHO picked off Jomarie “Escalera” Delos Santos’ Kagura.
With TNC missing one body, ECHO went for the third Luminous Lord entering the 22-minute mark. SDzyz (Lancelot) then split the map for TNC, heading to the top lane to disrupt ECHO’s formation which paved the way for Kramm (Uranus) and Robee “Yasuwo” Pormocille to take down KarlTzy and end the game.
Kramm finished with three kills, a death, and a game-high eight assists in the tight 11-13 Game Two win in 23 minutes and 45 seconds.
ECHO will face off against Blacklist International tomorrow, Sunday at 4:00 PM. Meanwhile, TNC will return next week, Friday against RSG PH at 6:00 PM.
